Vacuum packed ground coffee package

Abstract

A technique is described by which a predetermined amount by weight of ground coffee can be packaged into a container while the coffee density may vary within a range. The amount of ground coffee is supplied into a container along a feed path to fill the container and form a column that extends above the upper rim of the container. The ground coffee is compressed to a predetermined head level by compressing a region around the feed path while leaving a small column of uncompressed coffee. In another embodiment, the volume of the container is expanded during compression by outwardly deforming a container end. This enables the stiffening of the ground coffee to support a smooth unbeaded outer wall after vacuum packing without paneling effects.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vacuum packed ground coffee container comprising: a hermetically sealed, thin-walled cylindrically-shaped container having a storage chamber that is filled with a desired weight of compacted ground coffee under vacuum; said container having an annular wall with a smooth outer surface and end walls, at least one of said end walls being outwardly deformable and being in pressure contact with the compacted coffee, said compacted ground coffee having been compacted in said container against said one deformable end wall in an amount sufficient such that said one end wall has an outwardly collapsed segment that expanded the volume of the container in response to the compaction of coffee and to achieve a desired rigidity of the compacted coffee, so that said vacuum packed container of ground coffee has sufficient rigidity to stiffen the container in all directions and to avoid collapse of the container walls from atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
       2. The vacuum packed ground coffee container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ground coffee density is in a range extending from about 17 to about 22 pounds per cubic foot.